Basic HTML Version
III
THE QURAN
when water is not found, in case of sickness and when it is risky
to get water.
To perform it the Muslim has first to express his sincere intention
to do that, lay his hands on sand, rock or earth, wipe his face with
his hands, lay his hands again on sand, rock or earth, and finally
wipe the arms as high as the elbows. Unlike prayer,
tayammum
cannot be performed except at the time of prayer. And
performing it once serves only for one prayer. Then it has to be
performed before each single prayer, even if the prayers are
performed together in times other than the proper ones.
tayammum
is breached or made invalid by those impurities that
invalidate the ablution. It is also invalidated by the availability of
water.
4. Prayer
(Salat)
It is the duty of every mature Muslim to perform the five daily
prayers. Expiation for missed prayers is not accepted. They can
be made up for later. Valid prayer requires that it should be
performed at the proper time, in a state of consciousness and
purity and in decent dress. To pray, one has to face the qiblah or
direction of Ka'ba. The best prayer is that performed at the proper
time and in a group of at least two: a leader of prayer and another
person.
Menstruating women and those giving birth to children are
enjoined not to pray and are exempted from performing their
prayer later. Through God's mercy those unable to pray properly
on account of sickness and fighting can pray while sitting or even
with signs from the eyes signifying kneeling. Dropping any part